Industry Sentiment Best In Almost Three Years

25 February, 2013 by Martin Kelly

DOMESTIC tourism operators have shed worries about the high Australian dollar and are the most optimistic they’ve been in almost three years, although concerns linger about the business events, major events and backpacker/youth sectors.

These are among the key findings from the latest TTF-MasterCard Tourism Industry Sentiment Survey for the final quarter of 2012.

“While the exchange rate remains the number one concern, its importance has continued to decline – the high Australian dollar has become the new normal,” the survey found.

It also revealed that industry sentiment about domestic tourism performance recorded its fifth consecutive quarter of improvement, breaking “the baseline rating to 105 – the first time a better than average result has been achieved in 2 ½ years”.

However, “industry is predicting a more subdued March quarter with expectations dipping 9pts”.

Survey respondents were generally pleased with the performance of international inbound, which Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows is primarily due to strong Asian markets, especially China, and recovering traditional markets.

However some sounded a note of concern. One accommodation and gaming executive said: “In my decades of experience in the industry, these are some of the most difficult conditions, masked by Chinese growth”.

In other findings, “ratings for the business events, major events and backpacker/youth sectors (were) all down 6pts from Q4 the previous year.

“Meanwhile, drive tourism has surged from strength to strength, up 13pts, with nearly two in five respondents seeing good or very good results.”

Ends.

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Events

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TRAVELtech: Reboot

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This is quick shout out for ideas, speakers, sponsors and feedback for TRAVELtech, which was founded way back in 1999.

That would be the decade before last. A long time ago. Prehistoric in tech and travel terms, so time to change things up.

The big news is that TRAVELtech 2013 will be staged over two days - September 12 & 13 - instead of the traditional one.

The first day - the new day - will be all about travel technology with the content aimed at those working in the industry's growing IT sector.

Day two will address online travel, e-commerce, distribution, digital marketing, mobile, social media, web trends and other key issues.

In other words, day two is the "traditional" TRAVELtech program which has worked so well over the past few years.

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This modular approach will also be reflected in tickets and pricing.

Delegates can buy individual day tickets or a two day pass at a reduced rate, depending on what they interested in, and details on that will be available in early June.

Meanwhile, we are seeking speakers, sponsors, supporters and program ideas - or variations on all of those themes.

So please get in contact, let me know your thoughts, no matter how random they may be.

You can call on (02) 9882-1575 or shoot through an email: martin.kelly@traveltrends.biz

Thanks for your time and hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,

Martin Kelly
Founder, TRAVELtech

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